The master went home troubled over the event of the afternoon. He was asking the Indian to be better than his opponent, and she was a well-meaning woman and nominally a Christian.
His first thought was to go to Mrs. Woods and ask her to wholly change her spirit and manners, and, in fact, preach to her the same simple doctrine of following only one's better self that he had taught to the young prince. But he well knew that she had not a teachable mind. He resolved to try to reach the same result through Gretchen, whom she upbraided with her tongue but loved in her heart.
Mrs. Woods had come to regard it as her appointed mission to abuse people for their good. She thought it tended toward their spiritual progress and development. She often said that she felt "called to set things right, and not let two or three people have their own way in everything"—a view of life not uncommon among people of larger opportunities and better education.
Benjamin came to school the next morning silent and sullen, and the master went to him again in the same spirit as before.
"She say I no right here," he said. "She suffer for it. She wah-wah. Look out for the October moon."
"No, you are a better Indian now."
"Yes; sometimes."
"The better Indian harms no one—one's good self never does evil. You are to be your good self, and please me."
The young Indian was silent for a time. He at last said, slowly:
"But me know who will."